title: Transcription-terminating mutation in telethonin causing autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy type 2G in a European patient.
abstract: A 27-year-old woman of Moldavian origin presented at the age of 15 with progressive proximal limb weakness and painful cramps in her calf muscles. Clinical examination revealed prominent muscle weakness in proximal muscles of the lower extremities and distal anterior compartment of legs, and mild weakness in shoulder girdle muscles. In addition, she had marked calf hypertrophy, muscle atrophy involving the anterior and posterior compartments of the thighs, and the distal anterior compartment of legs, as well as mild scapular winging and hyperlordosis. A muscle biopsy taken from the biceps brachii showed mild dystrophic changes, absent vacuoles, and abundant lobulated fibers. Immunofluorescence and Western blot assays demonstrated complete telethonin deficiency. Molecular analysis revealed a homozygous Trp25X mutation in the telethonin (TCAP) gene resulting in termination of transcription at an early point. Four families from Brazil with telethonin deficiency have previously been reported and classified as LGMD2G, but the actual frequency of this disease is unknown. With this current identification of a case outside the Brazilian population, telethonin mutation-associated LGMD should be considered worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Neuropatologia, IDIBELL-Hospital de Bellvitge, and Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 25169mop@comb.es
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivé
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shatunov
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Lidia Gonzalez
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Quereda
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martinez-Matos
authors.forename: Lev G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.forename: Isidro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D064211:Connectin; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006801:Humans; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D049288:Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009154:Mutation; D013030:Spain; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D064211:Connectin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C577292:TCAP protein, human